IPOB: Army Officer, 3 Policemen Killed In Raid On Ikonson’s Headquarters – Official

The Nigerian Army has disclosed that a second lieutenant and
three police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, operatives paid the
supreme price in the fire fight that ensued in the raid on the
operational headquarters of the militia gang of Indigenous People
of Biafra, IPOB in Awomama Village, Oru East Local Government Area
of Imo Saturday morning.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima,
who announced this in a statement in Abuja said the terrorists
brought heavy volume of fire on the raiding team.

But he said the team swiftly responded and overwhelmed the IPOB
terrorists with superior firepower that killed the overall
commander of the terrorists, popularly known as Ikonson Commander
and six of his top commanders.

Army spokesperson disclosed that a second lieutenant and three
IRT operatives paid the supreme price in the firefight that
ensued.

He added that the four officers who fought gallantly had already
been evacuated to a military facility in Owerri.

He said the early morning raid was carried out by troops of
Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and
operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Yerima said the operation was sequel to a detailed intelligence
report on the location of the terrorists’ operational headquarters
and the movement of

According to him, the IRT and DSS teams along with troops of 82
Division of the Nigerian Army have been on the trail of the terror
group since the attacks on the Imo Police Command and the Owerri
Correctional Centre on April 5.

“The said Ikonson Commander who was the mastermind of those
attacks in addition to multiple attacks in the South-East and
South- South regions, was neutralised along with six of his top
commanders.

“The joint intelligence team had earlier interviewed several
arrested IPOB/ESN members in connection with the April 5
attacks.

“They all confessed that Ikonson Commander was the one that
mobilised men and resources as well as ordered and orchestrated the
attacks on Owerri.

“They equally revealed that Ikonson was responsible for many
other attacks on police stations across the two geo-political
zones,“ he said.

Yerima said that the intelligence team later tracked the
IPOB/ESN top leader to his exact location in Awomama village where
he and his top commanders were hibernating and plotting
attacks.

According to him, three AK 47 riffles, a Toyota Sienna van
belonging to the terrorists and several other items of value,
including drugs suspected to be psychotropic substances are
recovered.

“The items are being processed by the intelligence team to
assist in further investigations and operations in the area.

“The joint security team is already dominating the general area
while preparations for further operations are in top gear.

“The neutralised Ikonson Commander had in several occasions
posed for photographs with the fugitive leader of IPOB, Nnamdi
Kanu,” he said.

Yerima said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru
had commended the troops, the Police IRT and DSS operatives for
their determination in ensuring that the operation was a
success.

He said that the COAS also prayed for the repose of the souls of
the gallant officers who lost their lives in the operation and
assured that their sacrifice would not be in vain.

According to him, the Nigerian Army along with other security
agencies will sustain intelligence-based kinetic operations in the
South-East and South-South until the regions are free of terrorist
activities.(NAN)

The Nigerian Army has disclosed that a second lieutenant and
three police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, operatives paid the
supreme price in the fire fight that ensued in the raid on the
operational headquarters of the militia gang of Indigenous People
of Biafra, IPOB in Awomama Village, Oru East Local Government Area
of Imo Saturday morning.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima,
who announced this in a statement in Abuja said the terrorists
brought heavy volume of fire on the raiding team.

But he said the team swiftly responded and overwhelmed the IPOB
terrorists with superior firepower that killed the overall
commander of the terrorists, popularly known as Ikonson Commander
and six of his top commanders.

Army spokesperson disclosed that a second lieutenant and three
IRT operatives paid the supreme price in the firefight that
ensued.

He added that the four officers who fought gallantly had already
been evacuated to a military facility in Owerri.

He said the early morning raid was carried out by troops of
Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and
operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Yerima said the operation was sequel to a detailed intelligence
report on the location of the terrorists’ operational headquarters
and the movement of

According to him, the IRT and DSS teams along with troops of 82
Division of the Nigerian Army have been on the trail of the terror
group since the attacks on the Imo Police Command and the Owerri
Correctional Centre on April 5.

“The said Ikonson Commander who was the mastermind of those
attacks in addition to multiple attacks in the South-East and
South- South regions, was neutralised along with six of his top
commanders.

“The joint intelligence team had earlier interviewed several
arrested IPOB/ESN members in connection with the April 5
attacks.

“They all confessed that Ikonson Commander was the one that
mobilised men and resources as well as ordered and orchestrated the
attacks on Owerri.

“They equally revealed that Ikonson was responsible for many
other attacks on police stations across the two geo-political
zones,“ he said.

Yerima said that the intelligence team later tracked the
IPOB/ESN top leader to his exact location in Awomama village where
he and his top commanders were hibernating and plotting
attacks.

According to him, three AK 47 riffles, a Toyota Sienna van
belonging to the terrorists and several other items of value,
including drugs suspected to be psychotropic substances are
recovered.

“The items are being processed by the intelligence team to
assist in further investigations and operations in the area.

“The joint security team is already dominating the general area
while preparations for further operations are in top gear.

“The neutralised Ikonson Commander had in several occasions
posed for photographs with the fugitive leader of IPOB, Nnamdi
Kanu,” he said.

Yerima said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru
had commended the troops, the Police IRT and DSS operatives for
their determination in ensuring that the operation was a
success.

He said that the COAS also prayed for the repose of the souls of
the gallant officers who lost their lives in the operation and
assured that their sacrifice would not be in vain.

According to him, the Nigerian Army along with other security
agencies will sustain intelligence-based kinetic operations in the
South-East and South-South until the regions are free of terrorist
activities.(NAN)